Blindness
Therefore,
in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a
messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take
it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore
I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power
may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7b-9
What was
Paul’s thorn? Many have debated it. Some have concluded Paul’s thorn was his
vision. They determined this because Paul was struck blind on the road to
Damascus. He was blind for three days. His sight was restored but did he have
lingering issues? We don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us.
No matter
what, Paul continued to boast in the goodness of God. He preached the gospel despite
much hardship and condemnation. His faith never wavered.
As my own
eyesight deteriorates, I wonder if I will be able to continue with such a deep,
unwavering faith. It’s easy to cling to faith that remains unchallenged but it
is in our darkest moments that we truly learn how deep our roots have grown.
I turn the
pages of my worn, large-print Bible and I see marks again and again from a time
some years ago. Loneliness and fear had gripped me and I cried out to the only One
who truly understood my pain. His faithfulness sustained me and He blessed me
in ways I never imagined. He is, and will always be, the God who stayed and brought
light to the darkness. I cling to that now.
None of us
can predict the future. We make plans but we have no way of knowing exactly what
awaits us in the hours and days that lay before us. And, yet, Paul gives us an
example of what it means to boast in the Lord even as we suffer in the flesh.
Because He is so good and so faithful.
I don’t know
what thorn you’re facing today. I don’t know whether it’s a physical ailment,
an emotional heartbreak, financial stresses or any number of other things. Life
is hard sometimes. But remember who you belong to. Remember that He is
faithful. Remember that God will sustain you always and forever.
